"This is It"

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw sat silently in the center of the ThunderClan clearing. She had agreed to sit with Dandyheart while he had his vigil, even though she was pretty sure that the warrior code was against it. The moon and stars stared down from the midnight sky, warming her eyes in a way. The ginger she-cat thoughtfully twitched a whisker.

Turning to Dandypaw-heart, now- she looked sadly in to his eyes. Even though he couldn't talk now, she wanted to talk to him and just have him listen like he would those days when she ran off after a gruesome ambush on a clanmate. "I guess this is it." she sighed, a hint of distant sorrow in her voice. "The last time we play together as kits and apprentices. The last time we share a den. The last... everything." Her mind was wandering places she never knew it could wander. She whispered quietly, "This is it."

Somehow Russetpaw knew Dandyheart would normally speak up and say that she would be a warrior soon. She already knew the truth, though. Her warrior ceremony would never be awarded. Russetpaw blinked, feeling a hint of sadness. Fights with blood and injury as a kit and desire for battle. I'm just like Scourge. she thought ruefully. I hunger for blood. She blinked again and gazed deeply in to Dandyheart's eyes.

Her voice quivered as she gulped and spoke. "Dandyheart, tomorrow I'm leaving. There's nothing here for me anymore. I'm like Scourge. I desire for blood. For battle. The Clans would fall to turmoil if I It's the way it has to be. Like you and Fizzletail. Like the downfall of Redwhisker. Like this." she gulped again and her voice was thrown off. Russetpaw felt no connection to what she was saying. "I must keep ThunderClan safe from me. I'll find a den outside Clan borders. I'll live there until I die like Tigerstar. I'll never forget you, Dandypaw. Or Midnightstar. Or anyone. But I must go."

Redwhisker looked at Russetpaw. He stiffened, hoping she didn't notice his eavesdropping. Russetpaw, you can't go! ThunderClan needs you! I need you! he wanted to sob and comfort her. We'd be the best together, you and I. But the red tabby tom didn't speak. He remembered thoughtfully that he had a vigil to sit.

The two red-ginger cats waited in silence for Dandyheart's words.

[Spottedheart]

Dandyheart's eyes widened sadly. She couldn't leave. No. If she left he would lose a friend worth more then that. More then a friend, more then anything. Dandyheart placed his tail firmly on her shoulders. He knew that he had to say something but it was is vigil. Looking quickly around, the only cats that he saw staring at him were Redwhisker and Russetpaw. He took a deep breath,"No," he whispered very lowly so then only she could hear him speak. "Please, no," he whispered once more, he eyes sadly staring down at her.

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw felt a pang of longing. Her voice trembled and a silver tear dripped down her red cheek. "Dandyheart, there's nothing here for me anymore." she meowed quietly. "It'd be best for the Clan. I'm bloodthirsty. I hunger for battle. I don't want innocent cats to die at my paws." She shivered, more wet tears spilling down her cheeks. She sobbed. "I don't have a choice."

Redwhisker glared at Dandyheart. He had broken his vigil! Russetpaw, no! Don't leave me! the red tabby tom cried out in his mind. Breaking his vigil, Redwhisker felt himself whisper the words in a raspy voice unlike his own. "No!"

[Spottedheart]

Dandyheart felt his own tears sliding down his cheek. "No," he choaked, hardly making the words legible. "Please." He remembered he had broken his vigil. Oh well. "Russetpaw, there is always a choice. Pick stay here with me, or leave forever. Alone." He stared at her with his ice-blue eyes, hoping she'd make the right decision.

[Flamefur]

"Dandypaw-" Russetpaw let out a loose, stressed sob and looked deep in to his blue eyes with her green ones. "I don't know my other choice." She gulped and sobbed again.

Redwhisker blinked at Russetpaw, feeling sympathy for her. He glared at Dandyheart, who was breaking his vigil and crying like a little kit.

OOC: no offence Spotts *laughing out loud!*

[Spottedheart]

Dandypaw stared at her,his tears had run out and his eyes stung with the relization that should leave. "Please," he whispered just once more, hoping she'll hear the agony that she was putting through him in his voice.

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw could feel Dandyheart's pain. It felt like a thousand claws stabbing her heart. "Dandyheart,if I knew any other options I would stay, I swear by StarClan." she weakly meowed,tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt his agony as if he WAS her. "I'm so sorry..."

[Spottedheart]

"If you were sorry you'd stay," he breathed, his tail had fallen from her shoulders and his ears had drooped. He felt faintly nauseated at the thought of her leaving. His ice blue eyes were damp, and his body felt weak. No, she can't go. I won't allow that. He lifted his head and stared at her again. He wasn't going to say anymore. But suddenly he felt a twitch of hope. Maybe, just maybe...

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw gulped and closed her eyes. "I don't know!" she wailed quietly. "I really don't know what to do." Her red-tabby pelt shivered and she gulped again.

[Spottedheart]

Dandyheart just continued to stare at her, his plan forming in his head. Maybe...

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw wrinkled her nose. Dandyheart looked thoughtful. What was he thinking of?

[Spottedheart]

Dandyheart's eyes sparkled. Maybe. A small very dispicable smile spread across his muzzle. Maybe. He was just about to give her a hint when one of his cuts from the ghostly spirit of Tigerstar seared with pain, making him writh across the ground in agony. He wanted to scream for someone to put out the fire but he couldn't make a sound.

[Flamefur]

Russetpaw's eyes widened in shock. "Dandyheart!" she yowled, crouching beside him. The ginger she-cat was unsure what to do. Redwhisker chuckled.

[Spottedheart]

Dandyheart felt like the fight was happening again. Though he hadn't known who he was at the time. He slowly felt the realization that he might die then and there. He fought it back. He wasn't going to die. Not yet. Dandyheart felt some of his strength come back and he fought even harder. He opened his eyes and he thought he could see Tigerstar's smug grin fading into the darkness that surrounded him. He took deep breaths, and slowly, cautiously, got back to his paws. His legs shook with the effort it caused him. Russetpaw was staring at him, worry covering her entire face. He felt new strength. Then the gound disappeared and he was falling. He didnt know what was happening. His eyes had closed but when he opened them, he was still sitting in the same place he had before. He hadn't moved but yet he felt as if time had shifted. Russetpaw was sitting beside him, a small smile on her muzzle but she was thinking. Dandyheart knew what she was about to say.

[Flamefur]

"Dandyheart! Are you okay?" she yowled with worry. Russetpaw's green eyes were wide with shock and worry. She pounced forward and looked urgently in to his eyes. For a moment Dandyheart looked puzzled, as if he had expected her to say something else. He had a knowing yet curious look in his eyes.